Haddam Meadows State Park

Haddam Meadows is a state park spanning 175 acres along the Connecticut River with open fields, marshes, sandy beaches, and hardwood forests throughout the property. The park provides a boat launch, designated fishing areas, and picnic facilities scattered across its grounds.

The Edward W. Hazen Foundation donated the land in 1944, transforming what had been an agricultural floodplain into a protected state park. This gift preserved the riverside valley from development and made it permanently available to the public.

The meadows historically served as shared pasture lands where local farmers grazed their livestock after harvest time, showing how communities managed the riverside together. Visitors today walk through these same open spaces and can understand how people shaped the landscape through generations.

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset and welcomes visitors without an entrance charge. Parking areas are available, and trails are generally accessible for walking along the river and through the various ecosystems.

The site was once a key landing point for river steamers that hauled cargo between New York and the surrounding region. These vessels shaped the area's commerce and made it a hub for regional trade activity.

Location: Connecticut

Inception: 1944

Elevation above the sea: 3 m

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Haddam-Meadows-State-Park

GPS coordinates: 41.48000,-72.50750

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:02